MADISON, Wis., May 24, 2007 – The following is a statement by Jim Leonhart, executive vice
president of the Wisconsin Biotechnology & Medical Device Association, regarding the approval
today by the state Legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance of approximately $10 million for the
Medical College of Wisconsin’s Translational Research Program.
“Wisconsin’s biotechnology and medical device industry applauds the Joint Finance
Committee’s action today to support our efforts to translate important research being done at the
lab bench into clinical practice at the patients’ bedside. The $10 million approved by the
committee for neuroscience research through the Medical College of Wisconsin’s Translational
Research Program would advance its national and international leadership in functional magnetic
resonance imaging, or fMRI.
“The Medical College intends to collaborate with GE Healthcare on the refinement of its
technology through the use of GE’s new, cutting-edge imaging system that provides a much
clearer, non-invasive picture of what’s going on in the brain. This is the kind of academicprivate
sector partnership that is important to the growth of the industry in southeastern
Wisconsin and across the state. Wisconsin’s biotechnology and medical device industry is
grateful for the Joint Finance Committee’s support of these and other such partnerships.”
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